Improvement in school-desks



H. R. FRY.

scHooL-DESK.

No. 183,658. ratenzea ocz.z4,187e.

UNITED STA'I'Es PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY R. FRY, oF MARION,1ND1ANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCHOOL'DESKS.

specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,658, dated October 24, 1876 application filed September 11, 1876.

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. FRY, of Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ends for Desks, Pews, Settees, &c., of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of the standards or supports of desks and other like articles, its object being to provide for the construction of such standards of wood, in such manner that the grain of the legs and upper portion of the standard shall all be in one direction, thus securing the greatest possible strength to the same; and it consists in constructing the standard of three pieces, two of which form the legs, and the intermediate piece of which serves to unite the two legs, the whole being tongued and grooved together, and provided With a mortised cross-piece or cap on top, by which they are firmly bound and secured, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, Figure l represents a perspective view of a desk with my improved end applied thereto Fig. 2, a side elevation of the standard; Fig. 3, a view of the parts composing the standard, and the cross-piece or cap for the same. detached from each other; Fig. 4, a horizontal section on line .r w of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, the letter A represents the legs of the standard, constructed of wood, said legs being formed of suitable strips cut in the direction of the grain, or as nearly thereto as possible; and B, an intermediate strip, also cut in the direction of the grain, forming a connecting-piece, by which the two leg-pieces are joined together. In order to secure and hold the above-mentioned parts of the standard together, the inner edges of the upper ends of the leg-pieces are grooved, and the edges of the center pieces tongued, or vice versa, and fitted to each other, and glued or'otherwise eemented or united. In the present instance the leg-pieces are represented as grooved on their inner edges, and the center piece with corresponding tongues on its edges, the two being fitted together and appropriately united by glue or cement. Said tongues and grooves may be either plain, as in the present instance, or dovetailed, in which latter case,'as they lock together, the glue orcement may be dispensed with. rllhe letter D represents a cross-piece or eap, secured to the top of the standard thus formed, being provided with a mortise, E, on its under side, in which a corresponding tongue, F, on the upper ends of the parts composing the standard fits. Said cap is seenred, similarly to the leg-pieces and intermediate piece of the standard, by means of glue or cement, or in any other convenient manner.

As thus constructed, it will be perceived that the grain of the wood of which the standard is formed will run parallel or in the saxne line with the legs, both in the leg-pieces and in the intermediate piece, thus giving the greatest possible strengtli to the standard, and at the same time sufficient base to the same to securely support the desk.

I have described my improved standard particularly as applied toa desk; but it is evident that it can be used with equal advantage for church-pews, benches, chairs, settees, and stands and tables of various descriptions.

I am aware that the end standard of a desk has been mortised in the bracket instead of lapping it. I am also aware that the standard has been composed of two pieces, one bent and the other sawed out, and the two united together; and also that a standard has been made of three pieces united edge to edge by dowel-pins but such constructions are not my in vention, which consists, as hereinbefore set forth, in a standard for desks made in three pieces, united together edge to edge by tongue and groove, and so that the grain of the Wood forming said standard will run in the direction of the legs, whereby great strength is imparted to the standard.

' What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An improved standard for desks and other similar articles, com posed of three pieces, tongued and grooved and united together as described, whereby the grain of the wood forming said standard will run in the direction of the legs, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the snbscribing Witnesses.

HENRY R. FRY. Witnesses:

Jos. L. OooMBs, J Arms L. N oRRIs. 

